They're out! Narcissus flies active

[Anthony Darby]

Apparently dipping dormant bulbs in 'Lorsban' (Chlorpyrifos) for 10 minutes is a good preventative, but I suspect something that is not available to me?

[Tim Ingram]

There was I thinking all would go quiet on the snowdrop front! We have problems with swift moth caterpillars which I have found in a high minority of potted hellebores on the nursery in the past and tried to overcome using Provado-like insecticides (but it takes a long time treating hundreds of potted plants). I have done this a little bit with potted snowdrops that were very special but my preference is to distribute bulbs around the garden and hope that this maintains good groups of each. Lately I have also been collecting seed pods from those that set seed and simply burying the pods in new places to see what might arise. In the long run the plants that adapt and prosper in the garden will be the best and amongst them could be some great new forms.

But now, curses, I shall have to keep an eye out for Narcissus fly and fill in the soil over the snowdrop clumps!! Seriously it is good to have the reminder.

[Ray]

Hi Anthony,do they have Narcissus fly in NZ?bye Ray

[Maggi Young]

I hunted and killed a narcissus fly in the sitting room late last night... there truly is no peace.

[Lesley Cox]

Alas Ray, we do have Narcissus fly in NZ, and both kinds, the one with a large single grub and the one with several smaller grubs in a cluster. I've only seen that one a couple of times over the years. I don't have much of a problem here as there are few gardens nearby with daffodils and none, I think, with Galanthus or other amaryllids but I've occasionally had bought in bulbs containing a grub. I know what the flies look like and keep a fly swat in the shed.

One of Dunedin's millionaires, is a great benefactor to the city with large planting of rhododendrons especially, and hundreds of thousands of daffodils in various public places, street plantings etc. I imagine when those are in bloom the narcs will have a great time, with no-one looking to attack and control them but the daffs seem to increase well each year. He (the millionaire) has a fine tenor voice as well and is prominent in local opera productions. Also a great grower of magnolias.

[mark smyth]

in the sitting room? Never had one in the house

[mark smyth]

how about this?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zqxbuSeIx8[/youtube]

[mark smyth]

oops
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9G3rAPkRMQ[/youtube]

[loes]

 

[Mavers]

Do they hover like hover flies?

Mark, vids are funny.......

[mark smyth]

I have rarely seen them hover and this year was the first I saw them hover in the garden

[Mavers]

Yikes I must have a closer look at what I thought were hover flies.

[Gerard Oud]

I have sprayed 4 times with a solution with SiO2 insect + and no Narcissusfly to be seen and even  the Lilliebeetles do dissapear!
Its a good remedie for white/black flies and louse too.

[mark smyth]

 Do you know how it works? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_dioxide

[Gerard Oud]

It works on the nervesystem of the insects. They keep away from plants that have been treated with.